Conduit-threading device.



PATENTED JULY 2,1, 1903.

No. 734,267. l

vA. H. KNOTT. GONDUIT THRBADING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 18. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

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No. 734,267. PATENTED JULY 21, 190s. A. H. KNOTT.

GONDUIT THREADING DEVICE.

APPLICATION IILED DBG. 18, 1902.

N0 MODELA 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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No. 734,26v.

UNITED STATES i rammed Juiy 2i, 190e.

PATENT OEEIGE.

CONDUIT-THREADING DEVICE.`

(SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 734,267, dated. July 21, 1903.

Application filed December 18, 1902. Serial No. 135,697. (No model.)

To a/ZZ wham t may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR l-I. KNOTT, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwau kee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Conduit- Threading Devices, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which are a part of this specification. Y

This invention relates to improvements in devices for threading or wiring pipes and conduits, and Inore especially to improvements in devices for use in placing electric cables and wires in underground conduits.

The object of this invention is to produce a simple underground traveler or device by means of which a rope, line, wire, or cable, as the case may be, may be easily placed within the conduit-pipes to be threadedor Wired.

A further obj ect of this invention is to simplify and improve the devices for this purpose which have been heretofore devised.

These and other objects I attain by means of a device embodying in its make-up the elements formed and arranged 'as hereinafter described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings presented herewith. Y

In the drawings, Figuresl and 2 taken conjointly (Fig. 2 being at-the right of Fig. 1) represent a side elevation of a device embodying this invention in place in a conduit, which is shown by dotted lines. Figs. 3 and t taken conjointly (Fig. 1 being at the right of Fig. 3) represent a plan view of said device. Fig. 5 is a side sectional elevation of a portion of the device. Fig. 6 isa cross-sec-` tional view taken on line 6 6 in Fig. 3 look'- ing in the direction of the arrow, and Fig. 7 is a side sectional View of the head of the relief device hereinafter mentioned.

Throughout the several views like elements are denoted by like characters. The principle of the device is capable of being embodied in numerous different forms, and in the form chosen for illustration in this application the device consists of a central rod or shaft S, preferably round in form and of such diameter and texture as to be more orv less iiexible, so as to accommodate itself to curves and unevennesses which Ina y occur in the conduits to be threaded. Surrounding the central rod or shaft 8 and supported thereon near its front or right-hand end is a sleeve 9, loosely fitting said rod and formed square on its outside.Y The front end of sleeve 9 terminates in a cone-shaped head fixed on the sleeve and with its larger end toward the front. This cone-shaped member is bored centrally longitudinally to receive the rod S and is recessed in its front end at 11 to receive the head 12 on the rod, which head may consist of a nut threaded onto the end of said rod. The conically-forined member 10 is provided with four grooved roller-ways 13, extending from the base of the conical member toward the apex of the same. The head member 10 is substantially a duplicate of the member 22, illustrated fully in Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 6, from which clear knowledge of the construction of the head member 10 may be had.

Loosely mounted on sleeve 9 and yieldingly held against the apex portion of the conical member 10 by means of a coiled spring 14 is a carrier-collar 15, and pivotally mounted in said collar in line with the center of each roller-way is a bifurcated roller-arm 16, between the furcate portions of each of which a friction-roller 17 is journaled.

Mounted on vthe outer end of sleeve 9 is a sheave-holder and guard 18, within which a shcave 19 is mounted. sheave-holder iscarried down around and beyond sleeve 9 to form an abutment 'for spring 14.

Mounted on the outer or opposite end of rod S from sleeve 9 is a sleeve 21, which carries on its inneror right-hand end a conically-A formed member 22, similar to member 10 on sleeve 9. Sleeve 21 and conical member 22, however, are xed to shaft 8 by means of a set-screw 23, turned into an aperture therefor in said shaft 8. A carrier-collar 24., similar to collar 15 and provided with similar bifurcated arms and rollers, is loosely mounted on sleeve 21, and a spring 25 bears against said collar to yieldingly force it toward the apex of conical member 22. A Vcap 26 is provided for the end of sleeve 21, and said cap projects in from the end and down and around the sleeve to form an abutment for spring` .25. The left-hand portion of sleeve 21 is chambered out, as shown in Fig. 5, to loosely receive a screw 27, which is threaded through a sleeve 2S and bears against the outer end of rod 8,

One end 2O of the IOO , therefor in sleeve 2S.

which outer end is pointed and adapted to lie within a recess therefor formed in the end of said screw. Sleeve 2S is held in position within sleeve 2l by means of a set-screw 29, and said screw 2f) is threaded through collar 24, and its inner end enters an aperture 30 formed The said screw 2i) passes through an elongated slot 3l in sleeve 2l, which slot is provided in order that collar 24 may freely move longitudinally of sleeve 2l. Collar 24 is provided with a rod-support 32, into which one end of a rod 33 is threaded. Collar l5 is provided with a guide 34, provided with an opening 35, through which rod 33 is adapted to freely pass. Rod 33 at its inner end is provided with a head 3G, which may be in the nature of a nut.

Between the base of conical member 22 and the sheave-support 18 and surrounding rod S is a coiled spring 37.

A suitable rope or cord 3S is secured to conical member 22, passes forward around sheave 19 and back through a channel 3.) in conical member 22 and back past the device and ont of the conduit in which the device is to be used.

In describing the operation of the device the sleeve 9, with its conical portion, the collar l5 and its rollers, and the spring 14 will be termed the forward carriage and the elements at the other end of the device similar to those carried on the forward carriage will u be termed the rear carriage.

It will be understood that in order to accommodate conduits or pipes of different sizes or diameters rollers of different sizes of different diameters may be inserted within their bifurcated carrying-arms.

Springs l4 and 25 are adapted to normally yieldingly force their respective collars toward the apices of the several conical members and with them the rollers up the inclined roller-ways into contactwith the walls of the conduit to hold the device against movement.

The operation of the device is as follows: After being inserted within the conduit the operator by pulling on the cord 3S locks the forward carriage against the walls of the carriage, together with rods S and 33, forward the desired distance against the stress of spring 37, and when the cord is slackened or the tension removed therefrom the rear carriage becomes locked in its advanced position to the walls of the conduit and the forward carriage is projected by spring 37 along rod 8 until the end of said rod is reached and its head l2 abuts against the base of conical member l0. The rear carriage is unlocked from the conduit-walls by putting a tension 011 cord 3S, and this tension tends to draw the conical member away from the collar and away .from the rollers which the conduit-walls by contact therewith tend to retard in their forward movement, As soon as the tension on the cord is relaxed the spring 25 takes up the lost motion, so to speak, and forces the Arollers again up their inclined ways in close contact with the conduit-walls, whereby the rear carriage is again locked. XVhen the rear carriage is drawn against the stress of spring 37 toward the forward carriage and when the tension on cord 38 is relaxed, the conical mem' ber of the forward carriage is driven slightly in advance of the rollers on said forward carriage, whereby the lock between the carriage and the conduit-walls is released and the forward carriage driven or projected to the end of the shaft or rod 8. l

If desired, in operating this device the cable or wire to be placed within the conduit may be directly fastened to the device and by it carried through the conduit; but the preferable manner of operating the device is to thread the pipe or conduit with the cord or line 33, and by means of this line, after it is threaded through the pipe, the cable or wires may be hauled.

In the operation of this device it is possible that the same may in some manner become inoperative and be prevented from forward travel through the conduit, and arelief device for this purpose is illustrated herewith. This relief device consists of a head member 40, provided with an enlarged or fiaring mouth 41 and a screw-threaded throat 42, the threads 0f which are adapted to lit with threads 43 on the rear end of screw 27. By means of screw-threads 44 the head 40 is adapted to be screwed onto a length of pipe, and in relieving the device as many lengths of pipe will be necessary as will be required to reach from the mouth of the conduit up to the device. IVhen the device is reached by the relief-head 40, said head will be screwed onto the rear end 43 of screw 27 and screw 27 turned within sleeve 2S against the pointed end of rod 8, whereby collar 24 will be drawn rearwardly and the rollers carried by it down their inclined ways, and at the same time the forward collar l5 by means of rod 33 will be drawn rearwardly and its rollers carried down their inclined ways, whereby the entire device Will be unlocked from the walls of the conduit and may be drawn rearwardly through the conduit and out of the conduit-mouth.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. In a device of the character described, a rod, a rear clamping device rigidly secured to said rod, a forward clamping device loosely mounted 011 said rod, a spring surrounding said rod and located between said clamping devices, and adapted to normally hold the forward clamping device at the inner end of said rod, and aline secured to the rear clamping device and running on and about a part Xed to the forward clamping device and thence rearwardly by means of which said spring is adapted to be contracted and said rear clamping device moved toward the forward clamping device.

2. In a device of the character described, a traveler, a rear clamping device secured to said traveler, a forward clamping device IOO loosely mounted on said traveler, means for normally holding the elements of said clamping devices in operative positions, 'a spring surrounding said traveler and located between said clamping devices, a line secured to the rear clamping device and passing around thereof, a clamping device carried by said carriage, means for normally holding the elements of said clamping device on said carriagev in operative position, a spring between the rear clamping device and said carriage and surrounding said traveler for normally holding said carriage at the limit of its inward movement on said traveler, a line attached to the rear clamping device and running to and about a part secured to the forward carriage and thence rearwardly for contracting said spring and moving said rear clamping device and said traveler forward against the stress of said spring.

4. In a device of the character described, a traveler, a rear clamping device secured to said traveler, a forward clamping device loosely mounted on said traveler, a spring surrounding said traveler and located between said clamping devices, and a line secured to the rear carriage and running to and about a sheave attached to the forward carriage and thence extending rearwardly by means of which said-spring-is contracted and said rear clamping device and said traveler moved forward; said spring when the tension on said line is relaxed being adapted to project the forward clamping device forward to the inner end of said traveler.

5. In a device of the character described, a rod,a conduit-wall clamping device rigidly secured to the rear end of said rod, a conduitwall clamping device loosely mounted on said rod, a compression-spring surrounding said rod andtendingto yieldinglyhold said looselymounted carriage toward the forward end of said rod, and a line secured to said rear clamping device and running to and about a part on the forward loosely-mounted clamping device and thence rearwardly for moving said rear carriage and said rod forwardly against the stress of said spring. L

6. In a device of the character described, a rod, a forward carriage loosely mounted on said rod, a rear carriage rigidly secured to said rod, conduit-wall clamping devices carried by each of said carriages, a compression` spring included between said carriages, a line secured to the rear carriage and running to and about a sheave mounted on'the front carriage and thence rearwardly for moving 'the rear carriage and the rod toward the forward carriageagainst the stress of said spring; the operating of said line rendering the clamping devices on the rear carri-age inoperative and the clamping devices on the forward carriage operative, whereby said forward carriage during the operation of said line remains sta-1 tionary and the rear carriage carrying said rod is advanced toward the forward carriage Vby said line.

ARTHUR H. KNOTT.

Witnesses:

JN0. S. GREEN, A. L, MORSELL. 

